Organisation of the National Rescue and Firefighting System in Poland

Abstract

National Firefighting and Rescue System (NFRS) has been created to protect population, property and environment within the territory of the Republic of Poland by the following activities: extinguishing fires, fighting against the local threats, chemical and ecological rescue operations, technical rescue operations and first medical aid. NFRS, as an integral part of the internal security system of the country, is financed by the Government. The Chief Commandant of the State Fire Service is the central body of the state administration responsible for organization and managing the NFRS. The system operates on three administrative levels corresponding with the administrative structure of the country: district (main executive level, where interventions are carried out by the district’s resources), regional (coordination and assistance to the rescue operations when resources in the district are insufficient) and national (rescue operations assistance and coordination when resources in the region are insufficient). The main purpose of this article is to present : tasks performed by the NFRS (National Firefighting and Rescue System), functioning of the system at three levels (district, regional and national), cooperation of the NFRS with subjects like Police, Border Guard, units of Voluntary Fire Brigade and many others.